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Crocker Range National Park Sabah State |
Bandar Sri Indah Tawau Town |
Alamesra Kota Kinabalu City |
Crocker Range
Crocker Range Park (Head
Station Keningau)
+6019 8620404
+60 87-330 924
The Park is situated in the rugged Crocker Range that divides the western coastal plains from the rest of Sabah. Lying more than 300 meters above sea level, it is spread over 139,919 hectares of densely forested terrain. The Padas River which bisects the range between Beaufort and Tenom on its journey southwest, is just one of the twelve that flow through the mountains. Passage by boat was impossible due to the boulders strewn along the swift flowing Padas Gorge. However, human ingenuity led to the construction of a railway alongside the scenic gorge. Roads crossing the range have also made the interior more accessible from the coastal areas making it possible for visitors to enjoy the serene tranquility in the rugged mountains.
• FLORA AND FAUNA
The vegetation is predominantly a mix of dipterocarp forests and the montane
forests of the upper slopes. The bright yellow flowers of the Dillenia
suffruticosa, a woody shrub usually found on infertile deforested soil are a
common feature here. So too are the Tetrastigma, the wild vine, playing host to
the Rafflesia pride, one of the three parasitic rafflesia species found on
Sabah's mountain ranges.
The forest is home to at least five species of primates, such as orang utan,
gibbons and the furry tarsier (kera hantu) with its enormous round eyes and
frog-like hands and feet. Here too resides the extremely sociable long-tailed
macaques. Easily identified by their prominent cheek whiskers, they are often
spotted obligingly grooming each other and picking out edible insects, in the
process! Their intelligent pig-tailed cousins (pig- tailed macaques) are
extremely adept at plucking coconuts and can contribute significantly to the
labor force in coconut plantations!
Bears, civet cats, marble cats, and wild pigs also roam the forest floor while
hornbills, pheasants and partridges may be spotted flitting between the dense
foliage.
• FACILITIES
There are no visitor facilities within the park at present. However, there are
plans to establish a Park Headquarters at the present site of the Forestry
Department building in the near future.
Private accommodation is available at a resort outside the park area.
• HOW TO GET THERE
Presently, the Crocker Range National Park is not open for public visits.
Therefore, those who intend to visit must obtain written permission from the
Director of Sabah Parks. This also applies to travel agents who are bringing
tourists to the said park.
ENQUIRIES
Sabah Parks
P.O. Box 10626
88806 Kota Kinabalu
Tel: 088-211881,212508
Fax: 088-221001.211585
The Crocker Range National Park
...largest national park in Malaysia...
| The Crocker Range National Park is located
in the Crocker Range which divides the coastal plains from the rest of
Sabah. It was gazetted as a national park in 1984.
This national park covers 139,000 hectares and is the largest national park in Malaysia. It is extremely rugged and forms the backbone of Sabah, running southwest from Mount Kinabalu. It is some 300 metres above sea level and mostly consists of dense forest containing several rivers. The main waterway is the Padas River which runs through the south-west of the park but was long impassable because of rocks and boulders. The railway which was built through the gorge opened up the area and make the mountains a stunning backdrop for sightseeing especially through the Padas Gorge. A road-building programme has also made parts of the interior accessible and opened up some of the beauty of the surroundings to the many visitors. The area is ideal for long jungle treks to observe the montane and lowland vegetation. The park is interspersed with rushing streams and rivers. The forest areas are home to a rich and diverse selection of wildlife
including primates like gibbons, orang utan, and the furry tarsier which
has massive round eyes and frog-like hands and feet. Long-tailed
macaques are also a prominent feature as are pig-tailed macaques, and
the forests are also inhabited by bears, marble cats, civet cats and
wild pigs.
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